Outstanding displays by English players in the NRL this week : Sat Apr 19, 2014 11:54 am  

First there was the Friday night clash between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, in which Sam Burgess was excellent but James Graham was better. Graham was named Man of the Match by Fox Sports.

Then on Saturday the New Zealand Warriors played St. George-Illawarra Dragons, a game in which former Warrington journeyman Mike Cooper stamped his mark on the NRL with a very impressive try running hard from 15 yards out, in the manner we have become accustomed to from George Burgess. Cooper also played well in general off the bench, with his strong running and tackling. Yet this very good try of Cooper's was eclipsed by a brilliant solo effort of Sam Tomkins. The sidestepping and swerving from Warriors full back Sam Tomkins resulted in a try that kept the Warriors in the match. However it was another Englishman, Gareth Widdop, whose steady hand as play maker, field kicker and goal kicker steered St. George-Illawarra to a victory.

George Burgess was out injured this weekend .

If the form of these individuals can be sustained, you can expect the NRL clubs to be making approaches to other Super League players, especially Tommy Makinson, Joe Burgess, Tom Briscoe, Zak Hardaker and Kallum Watkins.

Re: Outstanding displays by English players in the NRL this : Sat Apr 19, 2014 12:18 pm  

Do you get turned on by belittling Super League clubs by insinuating all their best players will leave?

Re: Outstanding displays by English players in the NRL this : Sat Apr 19, 2014 4:04 pm  

Conorgiantsfan wrote:

Do you get turned on by belittling Super League clubs by insinuating all their best players will leave?

He probably does when people actually reply

Re: Outstanding displays by English players in the NRL this : Sat Apr 19, 2014 7:40 pm  

Conorgiantsfan wrote:

Do you get turned on by belittling Super League clubs by insinuating all their best players will leave?

What an absolutely stupid conclusion from an insecure little twit.

I get turned on by the great performances of the best English players in the toughest competition in the world.

This week Sam Tomkins turned on a superb display, not only scoring a brilliant try, but being safe under the high ball and solid in defence. Mike Cooper finally created a reputation for quality in the eyes of Australian commentators and fans.

I will be very pleased once there is a contingent of about 20 star English players making their mark on the NRL, and creating the foundation for an English national side that can beat Australia and New Zealand regularly.

Re: Outstanding displays by English players in the NRL this : Sat Apr 19, 2014 8:12 pm  

Mike Cooper's been good in all the games he's played so far, No doubt his improvement his season is down to the superior, cutting edge other worldly coaching he's been receiving in Aus.

Re: Outstanding displays by English players in the NRL this : Sat Apr 19, 2014 9:22 pm  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

Then on Saturday the New Zealand Warriors played St. George-Illawarra Dragons, a game in which former Warrington journeyman Mike Cooper stamped his mark on the NRL with a very impressive try running hard from 15 yards out, in the manner we have become accustomed to from George Burgess. Cooper also played well in general off the bench, with his strong running and tackling.

Warrington journeyman? He only ever played for Warrington, with a short stint on loan at Cas early on.

Re: Outstanding displays by English players in the NRL this : Sat Apr 19, 2014 11:13 pm  

Just spotted Capdouze trolling the Daily Mail website.

[Sadfish]

Re: Outstanding displays by English players in the NRL this : Sun Apr 20, 2014 6:33 am  

The op makes a good post with regards an update on the Englishers down under.

Re: Outstanding displays by English players in the NRL this : Sun Apr 20, 2014 9:58 am  

Warrington journeyman?

haha

Re: Outstanding displays by English players in the NRL this : Sun Apr 20, 2014 10:23 am  

I'm surprised warrington didn't do a lot more to keep him. But the Dragons game plan suits him a lot more than wire's offload at all cost tactics.

How long before the english players start to get poached to play for Australia or before they change SOS eligibility rules? I reckon 3 years.